Runway Style

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Today, we're tweaking our Shop Your Closet format just a touch and dedicating the entire story to a single collection: 3.1 Phillip Lim. In the approximately four years since Lim launched his eponymous company, we've come to depend on his hugely wearable and delightfully understated designs. Whether it's a thoughtfully executed coat or an incredibly adaptable dress, each season is a treasure trove of wardrobe gems and invariably full of those go-to pieces you pull out again and again. In addition to giving us the expected assortment of outfit essentials, this spring Lim kicked off his show with a head-to-toe must-try look. The foundation of this ensemble was relatively simple: a black pair of pegged trousers and a shoulder-emphasizing, structured, white blouse. Most of you probably have some version of these key items already; though if you don't, or just want to update your basics, try Elizabeth and James' Kingstone Trousers ($329) with either 3.1 Phillip Lim's Origami Sleeve Blouse ($310) or Plastic Island's Bubble Hem Blouse ($70).

Once you've solidified the base of your outfit with these pieces, it's time to add a little flair with a few trendy accessories. Obviously the standout item in this look is the amazing gold-trim vest, which is totally band-geek chic. Frogged outerwear appeared on numerous runways this seasonÂ--check out the Military Jackets ($5075) at Balmain and the Drummer Boy Jacket ($1933) from Tao by Comme des Garcons for referenceÂ--but we like Lim's take on the trend. He endorsed the decorative detailing via the Asymmetrical Vest ($495), a much more reasonably priced piece! Unsurprisingly, this wonderful waistcoat sparked a shopping frenzy and is basically sold out everywhere (though we found it in black at Colette).

Aside from shopping the French boutique, there is another way to acquire a similar vest. The genius folks over at Target created a thoroughly darling version with their Go International Bandleader Vest ($35, 800.800.8800)Â--it's just absurdly cute! Additionally, if you're the crafty sort, you could make your own version, just check out Caroline Blomst's DIY explanation at Mode Feber (or view this Swedish to English translation for the step-by-step process).

As for the rest of the 3.1 Phillip Lim look, the next necessary component is a monochrome belt like Topshop's Interlink Skinny Belt ($40), shown above, or Element's Noreen Belt ($26). Shoe-wise, Lim showed many of the runway ensembles with Christian Louboutin's Deva 120 Boots ($1095). Also available in nude, these booties have great fringing on the front of the shoe, which really plays up their sexy, semi-bohemian appeal. While we'd love to own the originals, we're also happy to settle for a similar style, like N.Y.L.A's Fergie Pumps ($102), for a tenth of the price!

Outfit complete, we have one final question for you: why not experiment with a slick hairstyle? While we're probably going to skip the oversized bunÂ--it's probably best to leave it to the runwaysÂ--we definitely could go for a more realistic variation. Instead, we'll just try the deep side part and neatly pulled back hair, which is easy to achieve with a grooming product like Frederic Fekkai's Extra Control Styling Gel ($23).